[Silencing nucleostemin expression reduces the proliferation of PC-3 cells]

To detect the expression of the nucleostemin (NS) gene in prostate cancer PC-3, LNCaP and DU145 cells, and to study the effect of the NS gene on the proliferation of PC-3 cells after its silencing.

The protein and mRNA expressions of NS in PC-3, LNCaP and DU145 cells were respectively detected by immunohistochemical staining and RT-PCR. An NS-specific short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) expression plasmid was used to transfect the PC-3 cells (NS-shRNA-PC-3), followed by observation of the changes of the NS gene and the proliferation and apoptosis of the cells.

The NS gene was highly expressed in the three types of cells. After the transfection, the NS expression and the proliferation of the NS-siRNA-PC-3 cells were remarkably reduced, while the percentage of the GO/G1 cells and the early apoptosis of the PC-3 cells obviously increased. A marked decrease was observed in the neoplasm forming ability of the NS-siRNA-PC-3 cells in the nude mice.

NS is highly expressed in prostate cancer cells. The proliferation of PC-3 cells is remarkably reduced and the early apoptosis of PC-3 cells increased after silencing the NS gene by NS-specific shRNA.